Family devastated after 'sick' drivers run over dad's grave

A distraught daughter has claimed her beloved father’s grave is being driven over and damaged at a Temple Balsall graveyard.

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St Mary's Church in Temple Balsall

A distraught daughter has claimed her beloved father’s grave is being driven over and damaged at a Temple Balsall graveyard.

Estelle Ellis, 40, said she is “devastated” that vehicles are damaging the gravestone and surrounding garden at St Mary’s Church belonging to her dad who died just three years ago.

Now the local parish council is considering the installation of a bollard to restrict access.

“It’s really devastated us,” said Estelle, originally from Solihull, now living in South Yorkshire.

“Someone ran over the rose bush I bought for him and his little garden.

“You wouldn’t walk over a grave, but people are driving over one. It’s sick.

“We asked for a bollard to be put in to stop them running over the gardens around the grave.”

Balsall Parish Council were informed vehicles may be entering the graveyard, and said they were looking at restricting access to ensure only their own groundsman could enter.

Council chairman Raymond Ritchie said: “We are investigating installing a bollard and that naturally this would be paid for by the council.”

The corner-plot gravestone has also been the target of heartless thieves who have stolen decorations left by Estelle for her dad.

“I can’t believe someone would do this,” she added. “It’s very upsetting. There are some low-life scum out there.”

Sergeant David Saunders from the Knowle, Dorridge and Blythe Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We are aware of the theft of a stone angel from a grave at St Mary’s Church, which took place on June 29. This is the only theft recorded at the church since the start of the year.

“To have an item stolen from a loved one’s grave is extremely upsetting. Some people may think they are wasting our time by reporting such thefts – especially if it is a low value item which has been stolen – but this is not the case.

“If there have been other thefts from graves at St Mary’s Church – or any other graveyards in the area – then we would urge people to report these crimes to us so we can take action to find those responsible.”

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